Description:

Among bronze animal depictions in Benin art, the leopard appears most frequently. As “king of the forest,” its reputation is as great as that of the Oba, or king. The leopard symbolised the Oba’s authority, the loyalty of his subjects, and high status. How the leopard came to be a royal symbol, however, is a matter of opinion. In one famous myth, the leopard is heralded for the balance between its strength and its reserve and moderation as a leader. The leopard symbolises the complete harmony between two compelling forces - the menacing and the moderating - that, according to Benin belief, every ideal Oba should possess.